Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-16
STATE CORREsPONDENCK.
Oxford,

MEMORIAL SERVICE IN TRIBUTE TO BEEcHER
 IN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-A NoTA-
 BILE OCCASION IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
 OXFORD, March 15.-Last Sunday was 8
 propitious day here, being the only Sunday
 propitious for a series of Sundays. At the
 CongregationaI church the two pastors in the
 morning, before prayer, announced what was
 already too well known-the sudden and
 lamented death of Henry Ward Beecher, one
 of this republics most worthy renowned
 sons, and one of America's best products as
 a mana man who aimed to speak for the
 Master, and in the main doubtless did speak
 for him, not only in the pulpit, but on the
 platform and in the press. In the evening
 a memorial meeting in honor of Mr. Beecher
 was held, when the scripture read introduc-
 tory to the exercises, Sam, 31-39, was
 read on account of itss inquiry: "Know ye
 not that there is prince and a great man fall en this day2" Our Dr. Barnes, 8 Yale grad
 uate, who pursued his medical studies for several years in New York city, pronounced
 the principal address, relating that he had
 been part of each Sunday for three years, when MT. Beecher was home, one of his au- ditors, admiring him from first to last though he heard the polished Storrs about as often as Beecher; relating several instances of gen. uine conversion wrought under God by MT.
 Beecher, of whom one was an avowed atheist for time and heard him for the frs time under protest; of whom another was pro fane sea captain lured into his church by Beecher himself. As the doctor, steady as are his nerves as 8 surgeon, spoke of the conversion, the unexpected conversion of his
 atheist friend through the preaching of
 Beecher, his tongue faltered and tears unbid- den filled his eyes. But as mortified at his hesitancy he rallied and went on to the end, speaking huently and appreciatiugly of ''the prince and great man that had fallen"
 Last Sunday was Thigh day' here in the Episcopal church. The church edifce was as well filled as the day was pleasant. There seemed to be gathering into it of Gail tribes" to see the stately Bishop of Connecti- cut. hear him preach and witness the con- frming by him of class of neophytes. Good as was his sermon, and good as was his con- firmation address. and imposing as was f'his laying his hands upon the head of every one severally, all kneeling and he saying to each: Defend, O Lord, this thy servant with thy heavenly grace, that he may continue thine forever, and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more until he come into thy ever lasting kingdom," the stand taken by the seventeen young persons as runners in the Christian race was better than the sermon and more imposing than the ceremonies inciden- tai to their becoming church members in full. The Holy Spirit was doubtless present on the occasion investing each person with a Christ robe and sinciting each to wear it with credit to himself. Truly wise were all these young women and young men, so true is it that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Happy, indeed, for them all and each if they run as they were eloquently ex- horted by the Bishop ito run looking unto Jesus, the author and fnisher of faith'' Heb. xii, 2.
 On Sunday, 9th instant, 8 young man not seventeen years of age, New Haven youth, earning his bread here on farm owned by one of our best citizens, walked two rnilas fhA Gonoraoetiopa1 obureb through untrodden snow in order to profess his faith in the Master and enter covenant with Gods people and partake of the Lords Supper for the first time after adopting the creed of the church and submitting to bap- tism, and after being 'fconfirmed' in the best sense of the term. There was nothing very imposing about the acts spoken per formed in the interest of one person and in the presence of only a few worshippers and But if the young man was what he professsd to be, "a follower of Jesus,' the occasion was actually imposing in virtue of the presence of the Master and of angels intensely and joyfully interes ted in all there was done.